kitchen before-and-after

I had a lot of fun designing my first kitchen project. There is a level of detail in designing kitchens that is dizzying, but the most critical part is the floor plan. I picture myself using the space, cooking, cleaning, entertaining, and the design flows from there.

This condo is on the third floor of a three family house, about 900 sq. ft. The renovation completely transformed an awkward, dark space into a light-filled, functional room. The budget was tight, since the bulk of it went towards the construction work to vault the ceiling. So I went with only 4 pieces of stock cabinetry, chose good-looking but mid-range appliances, and selected remnants for the marble countertops.

the original kitchen: no countertops, cabinets, or storage whatsoever.the tiny separate pantry housed the kitchen sink.sliders to deck. the roof over the deck and low ceilings made the kitchen feel small and dark.the pantry wall and ceiling were demolished to open up the space.opening up the ceiling to the roofline exposed the home's original stained glass window.the original beadboard and wood trim was stripped and given and clear coat of polyurethane. the family's own shaker-style hutch and farmhouse chairs are a nice juxtaposition to the modern lighting, stainless steel, and vaulted ceiling.we selected KraftMaid cherry cabinets, rainforest green marble counters from Gerrity Stone, porcelain farmer sink, and simple open shelves from IKEA for the former pantry.the slanted ceiling posed a challenge for upper cabinets, but the wall-mounted pot rack and spice shelves keep the space feeling open. beams that were added to support the roof provided the perfect spot for task lighting.benjamin moore's moonlight 2020-60 on walls, ceiling, and beams, and a custom-blended red accent wall give the room a lively and eclectic feel.